Home Food Storage - 3 Month Plan

If you haven’t read the post: “Home Food Storage – Start Small”, please begin there.

In that post you were asked to make a plan for beginning or increasing your food storage.  You should know what your weekly budget for food storage is.  You may already have an idea of things you use on a regular basis that you would like to store. 

To assist with your food storage plan, we have an Excel spreadsheet from 'Food Storage Made Easy' that you may use to determine what you would need for a complete 3 month’s worth of food storage.  Click this link and scroll down the page to "3 Month Planning Tools": http://foodstoragemadeeasy.net/babysteps/step-3-three-months-of-normal-food/   You will also find a printable spreadsheet further down the page if you do not have Excel.  Fill out the spreadsheet and then compile a shopping list from it.  Watch for sales on items on your list and grab a few extra things each week to gradually build your storage.

Please do not be overwhelmed by the title of ‘3 Month Plan’.  You do not have to buy it all at once.  The spreadsheet is just to help you organize.  If you prefer, start by filling out only 1 week on the spreadsheet.  Or, if you don’t like spreadsheets, get a piece of paper and write down what your family normally eats in one week.  Then plan on purchasing extras of those items next time you go shopping.   The idea is to just do something.

"Our Heavenly Father created this beautiful earth, with all its abundance, for our benefit and use. His purpose is to provide for our needs as we walk in faith and obedience. He has lovingly commanded us to “prepare every needful thing” (see D&C 109:8) so that, should adversity come, we can care for ourselves and our neighbors and support bishops as they care for others.

"We encourage members world-wide to prepare for adversity in life by having a basic supply of food and water and some money in savings.  

(The First Presidency, All Is Safely Gathered In: Family Home Storage, Feb. 2007, 1)

Smith’s deals:

(good through Feb. 1^st - prices when you buy 10 participating items)

Del Monte Vegetables $0.49

Hunt’s Tomatoes $0.49

Rotel Tomatoes $0.49

Progresso Soup $0.99

Pace Salsa $1.49

Hormel Chili $0.79

Heinz Ketchup $1.49

Kellogg’s Cereal $1.99

Kleenex $0.99

Langers Apple Juice $1.49

Arrowhead Water (24, 16oz bottles) $2.99

Home Food Storage - Start Small

Our next focus on being prepared is Home Food Storage.  Below you'll find some quotes from church leaders and Ensign articles to get you motivated.  At the very bottom (once you've read everything) you'll find some current deals at Smith's this week to get you started.

"Start small and do the best you can. Begin by purchasing a few extra items to add to your storage each week. Strive to build a one-week supply; then expand it to a one-month supply, then a three-month supply. By building your supply slowly, you can avoid financial strain and start down the path toward self-reliance."

(Family Home Storage: A New Message, Ensign, Mar. 2009, 56–60)

"Build a small supply of food that is part of your normal, daily diet. One way to do this is to purchase a few extra items each week to build a one-week supply of food. Then you can gradually increase your supply until it is sufficient for three months. These items should be rotated regularly to avoid spoilage."

(All is Safely Gathered In; Family Home Storage pamphlet, 2007,  2)

"Rotate and use food storage items regularly. Date food items as you purchase or can them, then store new supplies of food at the back of the shelves, moving earlier purchases forward to be used first.

"Do not go into debt. Acquire food items gradually. At the very least, save a few dollars a week for storage items. Using the basic foods in day-to-day menus can cut food costs and allow you to purchase more supplies. Or, as a family, give up some of the nonessentials for a short time until you can accumulate additional foods. Through prayer and concerted effort, you can work out a food storage plan that will provide you with security and peace of mind."

(Home Storage: Build on the Basics, Ensign, June 1989, 39)

No single food storage plan will work for everyone. Each family’s needs differ, as does their financial ability to accumulate the storage items. But by working under the direction of the First Presidency “to concentrate on essential foods,” it can be done. President Ezra Taft Benson has said on at least three different occasions, “The revelation to produce and store food may be as essential to our temporal welfare today as boarding the ark was to the people in the days of Noah.”

(Ensign, Nov. 1980, p. 33.)

Kevin and I challenge you today to make a plan for beginning or increasing your home food storage.  An easy place to start is setting up a budget for food storage.  As mentioned in the Ensign, it can be just a few dollars but it will get you started and will make a difference. 

Here are just a few of the deals at Smith's caselot sale to help you get going.  These are great food storage items and will be on sale until Tuesday, Jan. 18th.  Caselot sales are an easy way to stock up on everyday essentials. 

*Note that Walmart will price match the caselot prices for single items even if you don't purchase an entire case from them (must be same brand).  If you have any trouble, ask for Patti and she will approve the price match.

* Quaker Instant Oatmeal (box of 10 single serve packets) $1.67 a box, $20.00 for case of 12

* Maruchan Ramen Noodles 8 for $1, $3.00 for case of 24 - see, just a few $

* Starkist Tuna 2 for $1, $24.00 for case of 48

* Libby's Vegetables 2 for $1, $6.00 for case of 12

* Hormel Chili $0.88 each, $10.56 for case of 12

* Spaghettios $0.55 each, $13.20 for case of 24

* Kroger 4 lb. Sugar $1.89 each, $18.90 for case of 10

* Link to Smith's full ad: http://smithsfoodanddrug.inserts2online.com/customer_Frame.jsp?divID=706&drpStoreID=00107

We know as you make a plan and move forward as a family the Lord will bless you and provide for you. - Kevin and Kammi

"I will go and do the things which the Lord hath commanded, for I know that the Lord giveth no commandments unto the children of men, save he shall prepare a way for them that they may accomplish the thing which he commandeth them." - 1st Nephi 3:7, emphasis added.